Land Claims

Development, negotiation and settlement of claims for:

• Illegal flooding of reserve lands for hydroelectricity.
• Treaty land entitlement shortfalls.
• Inadequate quality of treaty lands.
• Illegal taking of reserve lands.
• Breaches of treaty obligations.

• Development, negotiation and implementation of:Mining exploration and impact-benefit agreements.
• Partnerships for development of hydroelectric power.Joint venture agreements with diamond drilling, construction, catering and other suppliers to mines.
• Agreements that secure business and employment opportunities in construction, manufacturing, service-supply, health services, and forestry management.
• Emission reduction benefit agreements to capture carbon credits from First Nations-managed forest.
• Economic development structures – limited partnerships, corporations, joint ventures – to reduce liabilities and taxation

Drafting and implementing:

• By-laws governing trespassing, residency, financial administration, and other governance areas.
• Taxation and assessment laws to implement property tax regimes on reserve.
• Personnel policies, drug-testing policies, housing policies and employment agreements.
• Creative solutions to improve programs and services for on-reserve members in the areas of health, education, housing, and social services.
• Assertion of jurisdiction and inherent rights to self-government by First Nations in Treaties 3, 5, and 9 territories.

We advocate for:

• First Nation interests before the Ontario Energy Board and the National Energy Board.
• Challenging federal and provincial decisions to take up traditional lands for industry projects.
• Consultation and accommodation related to First Nation impacts from proposed pipeline projects.
• Review and consultation with First Nations of proposed federal and provincial environmental legislation.
• Treaty-rights research related to traditional land and resource use.

We represent First Nations:

• At all levels of the Ontario courts, the Manitoba Court of Queens Bench, the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal, administrative tribunals such as the Canada Labour Board, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, Ontario Energy Board and National Energy Board.
• On a wide range of issues within indigenous contexts including: breaches of fiduciary duty, review of administrative and regulatory decisions, treaty rights, employment and labour, police brutality and construction disputes.
• Before inquests involving the death of First Nation members